Ranger-Led Programs

A student shows a park ranger his discovery.

NPS

 

The in-person programs below are offered year-round. A park ranger can lead any of these free, curriculum-based programs in a surrounding-community classroom or at the Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center. To organize a field trip, please select at least one of our education programs and complete the education reservation request form below.

In addition to the ranger-led programs, we have materials available for teachers to guide their students through the exhibits.

 

Ranger-Led Programs by Grade Level

Kindergarten-5th Grade

• Kindergarten-5th Grade: Moose Jaw, Bear Claw! 
  • Overview: Students learn about different Alaska animals and wildlife safety. Students will play a game that reinforces proper human reactions to encountering moose and bears in the wild.
  • AK State Standards: HL.A.3-4
  • Program time: 30-45 minutes 
  • Special Notes: The game portion of this program is typically conducted outdoors, but it could be completed in a gymnasium. 
• 1st Grade-2nd Grade: Caribou Antlers
  • Overview: Students will learn about caribou antlers and create a model out of moulding clay. 
  • AK State Standard: K-2-ETS1-2
  • Program time: 60 minutes
• 2nd Grade-3rd Grade: Snow Tracks 
  • Overview: Students will learn about common animal tracks in Alaska. By analyzing patterns and measurements, students will identify multiple sets of tracks and use critical thinking skills to support their answers. 
  • AK State Standards: 2.MD.1, 3.MD.5
  • Program time: 60-75 minutes
  • Special notes: This lesson can be completed outside when there is snow on the ground, or it can be completed indoors with paint. 
• 3rd Grade-4th Grade: Who's Got My Habitat?  
  • Overview: Students will learn about the four factors of an animal habitat and how Alaskan mammals adapt to survive in an arctic environment. 
  • AK State Standards: 3-LS4-3, 4-LS1-1
  • Program time: 30-45 minutes 
• 5th Grade-8th Grade: "Scatting" about the Food Chain 
  • Overview: Students will examine different types of animal scat to learn about different food webs in Alaska. 
  • AK State Standards: 5-LS2-1, 5-PS3-1, MS-LS2-3
  • Program Time: 30-60 minutes

6th Grade-8th Grade

• 5th Grade-8th Grade: "Scatting" about the Food Chain 
  • Overview: Students will examine different types of animal scat to learn about different food webs in Alaska. 
  • AK State Standards: 5-LS2-1, 5-PS3-1, MS-LS2-3
  • Program Time: 30-60 minutes
• 6th Grade-8th Grade: Who Owns These Bones? 
  • Lesson Overview: Students will analyze skulls from modern Alaskan mammals to determine how the size, shape, and characteristics (form) help animals meet their needs (function). 
  • AK State Standards: MS-LS4-2
  • Program Time: 60-75 minutes 

9th-12th Grade

• 9th Grade-12th Grade: Caribou and Climate Change 
  • Overview: Students will examine caribou specimens and hypothesize how physical traits are adaptive for life in an arctic environment. Using the Western Arctic Caribou Herd as a specific example, students will participate in a game-style activity representing caribou life history through the annual cycle. 
  • AK State Standards: HS-LS2-6
  • Program Time: 60 minutes 

 

Request a Ranger-Led Program

Enter the requested information in the collapsing panels below to request a ranger-led program. Be sure to specify if you would like a ranger to bring a program to your classroom or if you would like to bring your students to the Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center. 

NPS Form 10-1750 (Rev. 04/2021)
National Park Service

OMB Control No. 1024-0228
Expiration Date 11/30/2025

Learning Accommodations

Does anyone in your group need any accommodations?

Yes No

If yes, describe the accommodation need.

Next Step

School / Organization Contact Information

School / Organization Name (required)

Name of Requester/Contact Person (required)

Title / Position (required)

Contact Email Address (required)

Contact Phone Number (required)
123-456-7890 extension if any

Mailing Address (required)

City (required)

State (required)

Alabama Alaska American Samoa Arizona Arkansas Armed Forces - Americas Armed Forces - Europe Armed Forces - Pacific California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida Georgia Guam Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Northern Mariana Islands Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Puerto Rico Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virgin Islands Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming

ZIP (required)
Five digit ZIP code [99999]

Next Step

Group Details - Ranger in Classroom Program

Name of Primary Contact if Different Than Above (optional)

Title / Position of Primary Contact if Different Than Above (optional)

Email Address of Primary Contact if Different Than Above (optional)

Phone Number of Primary Contact if Different Than Above (optional)
Format: 123-456-7890

Program Name or Subject Requested

How much time will the ranger have to conduct the program? (required)

Grade Level(s) of Students (required)

Number of Staff / Chaperones (required)

Number of Students (required)

Preferred Date of Visit (required)
format mmddyyyy

My preferred date has been confirmed by the park (required)

Yes No

Preferred Program Start Time (required)

Alternative Date(s) (required)
Enter one or more dates.

Disclaimer:

A park representative will follow-up to confirm group details once this request has been received and reviewed.

Submit my Education Reservation Request

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NPS Form 10-1750 (Rev. 04/2021)
National Park Service

OMB Control No. 1024-0228
Expiration Date 11/31/2025

Notices

Privacy Act Statement

Authority: Public Law 114-289 National Park Service Centennial Act and 54 U.S.C. 100701 Protection, interpretation, and research in System.

Purpose: To administer education programs for education audiences including but not limited to school groups, scouting groups, extracurricular groups, and home school groups.

Routine Uses: To effectively manage requests for education received by the NPS, the Education Reservation Request Form is used to collect basic education reservation information to facilitate operational aspects of scheduling groups for park education programs, including in-park education programs, ranger in classroom programs, and/or online distance learning programs.

Disclosure: Voluntary, however, failure to provide the requested information may impede the ability to grant your education reservation request.

Paperwork Reduction Act Statement

We are collecting this information subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501) to provide park managers and educators the information needed to schedule and conduct education program activities. All applicable parts of the form must be completed in order for your request to be considered. You are not required to respond to this or any other Federal agency-sponsored information collection unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. OMB has approved this collection of information and assigned control number 1024-0288.

Estimated Burden Statement

Public reporting for this collection of information is estimated to average 5 minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the Information Collection Clearance Officer, National Park Service, 1201 Oakridge Drive, Fort Collins, CO 80525. Do not send your completed form to this address.